5 Bad Habits That Are Good For You

Everyone has bad habits! I have more than I can count on two hands! But did you know that there are bad habits that are good for you?

5 Bad Habits That Are Good For You

Swearing.

Swearing seems pretty commonplace these days. People swear when they hurt themselves, mess up at something, get angry, and in a regular conversation. According to researchers at Keele University in Staffordshire, UK, it can also be a natural painkiller and stress reliever. Lead researcher Dr. Richard Stephens came up with the study while he was doing DIY and swore when he accidentally hit his thumb with a hammer. Scientists found that foul-mouthed volunteers were able to withstand pain for 50 percent longer than those who didn’t swear.

One theory behind this is that swearing activates our fight or flight response, which releases pain killing endorphins. Instead of simply proving that we swear more when we’re angry, the psychologists insisted the study showed how profanity can be an emotional coping mechanism which makes us feel like we’re able to rebound more quickly. However, Dr. Stephens warns that for maximum effect, you should cut back on swearing in everyday situations.

Gossiping.

While gossiping is normally seen as being malicious and making you an untrustworthy person, gossiping is good for you! Wait! What? Gossiping increases the feeling of friendship between people and relieves stress.

According to scientists at Stanford University, gossiping and cold-shouldering people who don’t ‘fit’ are actually techniques to ensure the good guys come out on top. Conventional wisdom holds that gossip and social exclusion are always malicious, undermining trust and morale in groups. The conclusions were based on a game which involved dividing 216 volunteers into groups to make financial decisions which would benefit their group.

Before moving onto the next round, and a new group, the participants were allowed to gossip about the previous session and swap notes on each other’s behavior. Players were allowed to warn others about such freeloaders and exclude them from future rounds. Participants readily gossiped about each others’ reputations and ostracised those who hoarded their cash. Researcher Matthew Feinberg said: ‘Groups that allow their members to gossip sustain cooperation and deter selfishness better than those that don’t. And groups do even better if they can gossip and ostracize untrustworthy members.’

Burping and Farting.

Flatulence which smells of rotten eggs could mean you have a lower risk of cancer, according to scientists at Exeter University. The pungent odour is hydrogen sulfide, which is released when gut bacteria break down food in the intestine. But it also protects mitochondria, the powerhouse which drives every cell in the human body.

Dr Mark Wood says: ‘Hydrogen sulfide could in fact be a healthcare hero with significant implications for future therapies for a variety of diseases.’ The Brassica family of vegetables – such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage – which are known to protect against cancer also have high levels of the sulphur-containing chemicals that produce pungent-smelling wind. Notoriously wind-inducing foods such as beans, lentils and Brussel sprouts are also high in fiber which is important for digestive health and is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

Messiness.

Being messy can actual induce creativity. Recent research published in Psychological Science by Kathleen Vohs and colleagues at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, suggests that being messy can boost creativity. Vohs and her team carried out a number of experiments for the paper, “Physical order produces healthy choices, generosity, and conventionality, whereas disorder produces creativity.” In one experiment, 48 participants were assigned to either a messy or tidy room. Participants were asked to think up as many uses for ping-pong balls as they could and to write them down. Independent judges then rated the participants’ answers for degree of creativity. Results showed that participants in both tidy and messy rooms produced the same number of ideas, but those generating ideas in the messy room were more creative. Those in the messy room were (on average) 28% more creative and five times more likely to produce “highly creative” ideas. Vohs concluded that messiness and creativity are strongly correlated, and that “while cleaning up certainly has its benefits, clean spaces might be too conventional to let inspiration flow.”

Fidgeting.

Sitting for long periods has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Now scientists at Leeds University and University College London believe fidgeting helps counter the risk of serious illnesses. The latest study, based on health questionnaires completed by 12,000 UK women, revealed people who sat for more than seven hours a day and did not fidget had a 43 per cent higher risk of death than those who wouldn’t sit still. That’s just crazy!

There are many more common “flaws” that could actually be helpful! So, do a little research before you try to stop them. There is a time and a place for everything, so do try to be polite and considerate of others when practicing your bad habits. However, those “bad” habits just might actually be making you healthier!